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Stitt reaffirms anti-abortion stance during Rose Day rally

Gov. Kevin Stitt reaffirmed his support for anti-abortion legislation at a Capitol rally on Wednesday and said he wanted to see the U.S. Supreme Court outlaw abortion across the nation.

“I want to work with the Legislature to continue to push pro-life legislation forward and I (want to) think how we can also influence our Supreme Court to actually change some things,” said Stitt, speaking at the annual Rose Day rally.

Stitt has repeatedly said he would sign any anti-abortion legislation that reaches his desk, and he may get the chance as at least 11 anti-abortion bills have been filed this year.

Senate Bill 13 would make abortion a felony homicide and several Oklahomans who gathered at the Capitol Wednesday said they wanted lawmakers to support the bill, even if it resulted in a legal challenge.

Abortion has been a constitutional right since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat is opposed to abortion, but he said he wouldn’t want to advance legislation that he knew would be ruled unconstitutional.

Even with a shift at the U.S. Supreme Court, Treat said he isn’t ready to test the limits just yet.

“I’ve got to reevaluate on the federal side of what our chances are, (but) I seek opinions from constitutional attorneys, not necessary political consultants,” Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said Wednesday.

On Senate Bill 13, Treat said similar attempts have been unsuccessful in the past and he wouldn’t want to face a defeat in the courts.

“I want to make sure whatever we do does not set back the movement that I care so deeply about,” Treat said. “I’m still evaluating (Senate Bill 13), but if we have a bill where we have a high degree of certainty it is going to be ruled unconstitutional then I believe advancing it just provides fodder for the (other side).”

Mary Hall, a Meeker resident who attended the rally, said she believes the U.S. Supreme Court might be more receptive to overturning Roe v. Wade.

Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks in the House of Representatives chamber during Rose Day, an annual anti-abortion event, Wednesday at the state Capitol. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] Tim Taylor and Ann Taylor, of Hennessey, chat Wednesday after leaving roses in the office of Sen. Chuck Hall during Rose Day at the state Capitol. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] Gov. Kevin Stitt, left, hugs Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell after Pinnell spoke and introduced Stitt in the House of Representatives chamber during Rose Day. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] Gov. Kevin Stitt, left, shakes hands with Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell during Rose Day. [Nate Billings/ The Oklahoman] People in the gallery of the House of Representatives chamber applaud during Rose Day at the state Capitol. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman]

Ben Felder

Ben Felder is an investigative reporter for The Oklahoman. A native of Kansas City, Ben has lived in Oklahoma City since 2010 and covered politics, education and local government for the Oklahoma Gazette before joining The Oklahoman in 2016....
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